A spate of violent attacks across the city in only a few hours has left four people seriously injured. Three people were found with knife wounds and, according to eyewitnesses, a machine gun was used in the fourth attack.

Police in Harlesden have been granted extra stop-and-search powers until midday following a shooting and stabbing that occurred roughly a mile apart on Thursday. A man, aged in his 20s, suffered life-threatening gunshot wounds at 8:30pm Thursday in Lawrence Avenue, Brent.

Only two hours later, police found another man in his 20s with life-threatening wounds – this time from a knife attack – in Rainborough Close. Met Police officers are investigating if the two violent attacks are connected.

Despite eyewitnesses claiming that a machine gun was used in the firearm attack, Scotland Yard has advised that there was "no information" to support these claims. On the other side of the city in Deptford, a 23-year-old man was discovered just after 8pm with stab wounds in Creek Road. He was rushed to the hospital after he was treated by London’s Air Ambulance.

In the early hours of Friday morning, roughly two miles or so from the attack in Deptford, another man was stabbed on Old Kent Road. The man, understood to be 30-years-old, was rushed to the hospital. His condition is currently unknown. Police arrested a 28-year-old man on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm.